The Detroit Tigersí lead in the American League Central, once the biggest in baseball at seven games, is now down to a fraction of that, after Fridayís 2-0 loss to the Minnesota Twins dropped it to two.

It went lower, to 1 1/2 when the second-place Kansas City Royals finished off a win over the Chicago White Sox. The Tigersí lead hadnít been lower than two games since April 30.

It marks the fourth time the Tigers have been shut out this season, the first time at home, where they are now 16-16. Theyíre also 13-12 against the AL Central.

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THIRD INNING >> Smyly gave up a leadoff home run to Eduardo Escobar, then got himself in a jam with two walks sandwiched around a Joe Mauer single to load the bases with one out. He pitched out of it with a three-pitch strikeout of newly-signed free agent Kendrys Morales and a three-pitch pop-up by Oswaldo Arcia.

That would start a streak where Smyly retired 10 of 11 batters faced, before leaving at the end of the sixth inning.

FIFTH INNING >> The Tigers threatened, but did not score. After a leadoff single by Alex Avila, Andrew Romine reached when his bunt single was bobbled by pitcher Kyle Gibson. Ian Kinsler moved both runners into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt, then Austin Jackson walked to load the bases with one out for Miguel Cabrera.

Despite coming into the game with an American League-leading .431 average with runners in scoring position, Cabrera grounded into a 5-4-3 double play to end the threat.

SEVENTH INNING >> Alex Avila hit a one-out double over the head of Danny Santana in center field. But with pinch runner Rajai Davis representing the potential tying run at second base, both pinch hitter Torii Hunter and Kinsler grounded out to third to end the rally.

EIGHTH INNING >> Former Tigers reliever Casey Fien mowed down the heart of the Tigers, including a swinging strikeout of Victor Martinez, keeping any threat from developing.

NINTH INNING >> Closer Joe Nathan came on in the ninth to get some work ó as he hadnít pitched since Saturday ó†and got some. Josh Willingham reached on an error, then after two outs ó one of them a 410-foot blast to center field ó†Nathan walked Plouffe, and plunked Eduardo Nunez to load the bases.

Nathan walked Escobar to force in a run, making it 2-0, and was pulled in favor of Phil Coke. Itís the second time in four outings that Nathan has failed to get out of the ninth inning. Coke struck out Santana to end the threat.

Glenn Perkins got the first two Tigers in order in the bottom of the inning, then got Bryan Holaday to fly out after a Nick Castellanos double.